Who is Alex Eala? 5 things you should know about this rising tennis star

With a slew of titles under her belt at only 19, Alex Eala is setting the stage to become the future of Filipino tennis on the international court

With a growing collection of prestigious titles, including a Grand Slam win before turning 18, she’s already made her mark on the world stage. But this is just the beginning.

Hailing from the Philippines, she’s already made waves in the tennis world, and her journey is one that continues to inspire Filipinos—and the globe.

Recognised as one of Tatler’s Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow, she is a part of the new wave of young, inspiring changemakers who are living up to their goals with a mindset, grit and passion for pushing the limits of what’s possible.

Here’s what you need to know about this young tennis sensation who’s achieved so much but is also just getting started.

Tennis is in her blood

Even after dabbling in different sports, Eala knew early on that tennis was her calling. Raised in a family of sports aficionados and athletes who supported her passion, she never had the temptation to switch gears into other sports. Tennis was always the star of the show. “Growing up, the goal was always to win a Grand Slam,” she says.

Alex Eala began playing tennis at a young age, inspired by watching her older brother, Miko, play. But it was her late grandfather, Roberto Maniego, who was her first coach, imparting lessons that would shape her career. Even today, her biggest supporter is her father, Mike Eala; her uncle, Noli Eala, a renowned sports commentator, is another constant presence in her life. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, is a SEA Games bronze medallist for swimming.

Her first big win came in France

Eala’s first brush with tennis fame came in 2018, when she was 12 years old. She conquered the Les Petit As Le Mondial Lacoste—a prestigious junior tennis tournament for players aged 12 to 14, held in Tarbes, France.

Even then, her mind was already focused on the bigger picture. “I need to build my ITF (International Tennis Federation) ranking to qualify for the grand slams,” the young Eala said after her win.

Little did the world know, this was just the beginning of a career that would inspire a nation.

She moved out at just 13… to join the Rafael Nadal Academy

At just 13, Eala packed her bags and left for Spain. It wasn’t only for fun, though. She became a scholarship student at the prestigious Rafael Nadal Academy, where she was training under the watchful eye of the legendary tennis player.

Eala admires Naval for two standout qualities: his focus and mental composure. “It’s how he’s able to fight so much during the tough points but able to keep his cool when he’s down and stay motivated during the matches.”

Training under the 22-time grand-slam winner and two-time Olympic champion was a “big change” but one that is needed. “I basically grew up there. It helped me gain independence, and I don’t know where I would be if I wasn’t there,” she shares.

She is the first Filipino Grand Slam champion

In 2022, Alex Eala shattered barriers and etched her name in the history books after becoming the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam title. She claimed the much-deserved title without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. It’s only a plus that she did this before she turned 18.

With three Junior Grand Slam titles under her belt, including doubles victories at the Australian and French Opens, and a career-high WTA singles ranking of 138 as of 2025, her achievements read like a seasoned pro’s résumé.

But Eala doesn’t stop at numbers. She’s already competed in all four Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon, and in 2024, she celebrated her first ITF doubles title as a professional.

At 19, she is climbing seamlessly into the professional circuit and the world hasn’t seen the best of her yet.

She grew up watching Manny Pacquiao fights

As every Filipino is during Manny Pacquiao fights, Alex Eala also grew up huddled around the TV with family and friends, cheering on the Filipino boxing legend.

“Ever since I was a little girl, when he would have fights, it’s like a holiday in the Philippines. The families get together, they watch the fights,” she shared in an interview, recalling how Pacquiao’s grit and ability to bring the Philippines together fuelled her ambition to inspire and raise the country’s flag.

Today, she continues that legacy, using her platform to inspire the next generation of Filipinos to dream big and fight for their country.

She's the first Filipino to beat a top 10 player

At the Miami Open on March 23, Eala stunned fifth seed Madison Keys with a historic 6-4, 6-2 victory. The 19-year-old is the first Filipino woman to defeat a top-10 opponent since the Women's Tennis Association began its rankings in 1975. While Keys admitted that she was in her best form, the win remains a momentous one for the Filipino teenager, who credits her family for providing her with proper tennis foundations before she went to the Rafael Nadal Academy.

Prior to facing Keys, Eala also beat world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko. At that time, it was her first career win against a top-30 opponent.

She's currently ranked 140th around the world

When Eala debuted in 2020, she ranked 1190. She later moved up to 529th and 219th in the succeeding years before placing No. 205 by the end of 2023. The year 2024 greeted her with career milestones, including a twin-title feat in the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz Single and Doubles tournaments in Spain. She is currently ranked 140th, but is poised to enter the top 100 after the results of the Miami Open are in, making her the top-ranked player in the history of Philippine tennis.

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She's a left-handed player

What's so special about a person being left-handed? Well, according to one study, only 10 per cent of the global population is left-handed, yet 23 per cent of Wimbledon Singles titles have been won by left-handed players, including Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.

Moreover, Eala shares this trait with other world-class Filipino athletes, such as Manny Pacquiao, Paeng Nepomuceno, Allan Caidic and Kai Sotto.

Eala is the first woman from the Philippines to reach the final 8 of a WTA 1000 tournament

The Miami Open is producing a lot of firsts for the tennis prodigy. Apart from the aforementioned battles with Ostapenko and Keys, she also defeated World No. 2 Iga Swiatek at the quarterfinals. Eala was in disbelief when she finished the match with a shocking yet well-received 6-2 7-5 upset.

Eala has met Iga Swiatek before

Eala has come full circle with her defeat of the Polish tennis star. Swiatek was the special guest at the 2023 Rafa Nadal Academy commencement ceremony when Eala graduated.

After her recent win, Nadal himself posted a message on X, saying "We are extremely proud of you, Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming!"

This story has been updated on March 24, 2025 with reports from Tatler T-Labs.

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Alex Eala Tennis Wimbledon Miami Open Filipino Athletes Sport Sports

Syrah Vivien Inocencio

Power & Purpose Editor, Tatler Philippines

Syrah is Tatler Philippines’ Power & Purpose editor, where she spotlights extraordinary journeys shaping the Philippines and Asia. She covers business, innovation, impact, and culture—chasing the people, ideas and forces shaping how we live and think today.